Sufficient Conditions for Thermal Rectification in Hybrid Quantum Structures
Abstract
We analytically identify sufficient conditions for manifesting thermal rectification in two-terminal junctions, including a subsystem connected to two reservoirs, within the quantum master equation formalism. We recognize two classes of rectifiers. In type A rectifiers, the reservoirs’ energy structure is dissimilar. In type B rectifiers, the baths are identical but include particles whose statistics differ from that of the subsystem, to which they asymmetrically couple. Our study applies to various hybrid junctions including metals, dielectrics, and spins.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- March 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.095503
- arXiv:
- arXiv:0810.4347
- Bibcode:
- 2009PhRvL.102i5503W
- Keywords:
-
- 63.22.-m;
- 05.60.-k;
- 44.10.+i;
- 66.70.-f;
- Phonons or vibrational states in low-dimensional structures and nanoscale materials;
- Transport processes;
- Heat conduction;
- Nonelectronic thermal conduction and heat-pulse propagation in solids;
- thermal waves;
- Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics;
- Condensed Matter - Other Condensed Matter
- E-Print:
- PRL 102, 095503 (2009)